Doctor Faustus Act 3, Scene 1 Summary

Faustus gives the scoop on his journey to Rome, telling how he traveled over Trier, France, the Rhine River, Naples, the tomb of Vergil, Venice, and Padua.

Then, to Mephistopheles, he's all, dude, where are we? To which Meph tells him: duh, Rome.

Mephistopheles explains the geography of Rome—how it stands on seven hills with the Tiber River running through it, and how a palace upon the Angelo Bridge sits next to the gates and pyramids that Julius Caesar brought there from Africa. Sounds kind of like Vegas.

Faustus really wants to let loose and see the sights, but Mephistopheles thinks he should stay where he is in order to catch the Pope's procession and feast.

Faustus agrees, but tells Mephistopheles that he wants to be an "actor" in the Pope's show. Geez, someone's a diva.

Mephistopheles agrees, and they make a plan to humiliate the Pope and all his devout buddies.

The cardinals of France and Padua, bishops, monks, and friars enter in a procession, followed by Pope Adrian, King Raymond of Hungary, and the Archbishop of Rheims.

They lead a man named Bruno in chains.

The Pope makes Bruno get down on his hands and knees, then uses his back to mount into his carrier-chair. Classy.

Bruno remarks that the Pope's position actually belongs to him.

Then the Pope commands the cardinals to go to his library and read what the Council of Trent says is punishment for the one who unlawfully claims the Pope's position.

Under Faustus's orders, Mephistopheles follows the cardinals and makes them fall asleep before they can carry out the Pope's orders. Then he tells everyone his plan: he wants to free Bruno. Bruno reminds the Pope that he was elected by the Emperor.

Oh really? Says the Pope. Well then he'll just have to excommunicate the emperor, maybe even dethrone him while he's at it. The emperor is too big for his britches anyway.

But, Bruno reminds the Pope, a prior pope, Julius, swore to hold the emperors as their lawful lords.

The Pope counters that Julius overstepped his bounds in doing so, so his decree isn't valid anyways. In short, bully for you, Bruno!

He shows Bruno his seven seals, which is another way of saying, can't touch this, Bruno.

And then he has the nerve to threaten Bruno with his curse.

Enter Faustus and Mephistopheles, dressed as the Cardinals of France and Padua. Oh, trouble's a'brewin'.

The Pope asks these—ahem—Cardinals what they have decided about Bruno's punishment.

Faustus answers that Bruno and the German emperor should be considered heretics and disturbers of the Church's peace. Basically, it's time to burn them.

So the Pope hands over Bruno to Faustus and Mephistopheles. He tells them to take the poor guy to a prison tower, and tells everyone that tomorrow, he'll pass judgment on the heretic.

Faustus and Mephistopheles leave with Bruno; the Pope says it's time to party and calls for a banquet to celebrate his victory with King Raymond of Hungary.